THE REGIME WANTS TO STIFLE AT ALL COST, THE OPEN POLITICAL DEBATE! LE RÉGIME VEUT ÉTOUFFER COÛTE QUE COÛTE LE DÉBAT POLITIQUE OUVERT!

Dear readers, the above video is simply appalling in that it represents the actual practices of the regime in Gabon. While in theory in a country that claims to move towards democratic pluralism, it could be expected to have a public and citizen participation in the political debate and a governance open to popular review that would inevitably lead to the transparency of public life; in practice we see instead that the regime is doing everything to stifle any attempt at establishing an open democratic and pluralistic framework.

Whether one is for or against Jean Ping’s approach is not actually the problem. What is dangerous for our country is the systematic suffocation of dissenting voices by the regime in power. This has been the case since 1990 and before: if one does not dance to the regime’s beat, they have no right to speak; they cannot appear on public media; your newspapers are subject to fierce censorship; their parents, friends and supporters lose their jobs etc. Even when they try to hold public meetings to share with the public, goons are sent to cause trouble.

In Greek thought, the pluralistic term "citizen" has the definition of: "those who compete in speech." This definition emphasizes the importance of speech in politics. It offers instead of military conquests and invasions, a political struggle organized as a series of oratorical contests, as an exchange of arguments whose theater is the agora. In this venue, which is a public place, people are in a society, a group of equals. Therefore, the power "of the monarch," gives way to a political practice organized by the debate, with the participation of citizens who discuss public affairs, and how power is exercised on the commons. Dear readers, when you watch this video, you realize that the regime in power does not want that logic.

It is obvious the Jean Ping’s critics, or those of any politician, in power or in the opposition, have the right to speak and to articulate their opinions. But what is unacceptable is for these critics to come consistently, with an inclination to violence, sabotage the meetings of the person they are said to oppose. In all countries of the world, this is intolerable. That some wackos cause stir at a meeting of Jean Ping is one thing; but when those wackos are clearly and with recidivism doing this in a way that formally expresses their intent to impair the ability of anti-regime politicians to interact with the Gabonese people, it becomes problematic.

The regime must understand once and for all that democracy is a political environment where dissent is tolerated, where it is even encouraged. In the era of independent means of communication and social networks, where everyone can make their opinions known, it is impossible for the regime to impose its will on the Gabonese people. The regime may have with it law enforcement on the ground, it can deploy armed officers or thugs to hope to stifle the political debate, but in the heads and hearts, it only reinforces the rejection that the Gabonese people feel for it.

Finally, there is the pitiful mediocrity and ignorance of the people the regime sends to break up and stifle public debate. The prime example is the individual on the video, who uses a definition of the term "sovereignty" that defies common sense. This guy does not even know that the word "sovereignty" in politics, is referring to freedom, renewal, change, independence etc. Faced with such witlessness and ridicule, one can then understand that the regime cannot afford to open the political debate, because it is impossible for its members to push reflection, to formulate and change things, to have an attitude of lucidity that leads to self-questioning and to analytical capacity. Under such conditions, the regime must suffocate any debate in the bud, in order to better allow a tiny minority to continue to lock the Gabonese people in totalitarianism and to obscure their demands for democratic governance. Definitely, Ali Bongo is struggling to get out of 'Sovietism', that is to say the unanimity of his position on any decisions. He has not yet realized that it is the difference of opinion in a country that enriches it; that opens new horizons and allows it to maintain its dynamism, which consequently prevents the sclerosis of the country and the grip of a clique of thugs on the country's leadership. This openness is in addition to the establishment of a true republic, the condition which creates a true democracy...

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